Uhuru Fulfils Moi's Special Request

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, December 19, honoured former head of state Mzee Moi's special request.

Through a cabinet meeting he chaired, the president approved the renaming of Moi Day which falls on October 10, as Huduma Day.

The change was in line with former President Daniel Arap Moi’s desire that the day be commemorated as a day of service and volunteerism.

A statement from the Presidential Communication and Strategic Unit (PSCU) disclosed that Boxing Day which falls on December 26, was also renamed to Utamaduni Day.

President Uhuru Kenyatta leads cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on Thursday, December 19.

Utamaduni Day will be set aside to celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity and heritage. The proposed amendments to the Public Holidays Act will take effect once approved by Parliament.

The renaming comes after the cabinet approved amendments under the proposals to amend the Public Holidays Act (Cap 109). 

The Cabinet also approved the coming into operation of the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (KPCU) as well as the immediate operationalization of the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund.

The executive also discussed the issue of pending bills and reiterated that all arms of Government should move quickly to settle all bills that were audited and verified by the Office of the Auditor-General.

There has been uncertainty about the celebration of Moi day after it was removed from the list of Kenyan national holidays after the promulgation of the constitution of Kenya in August 2010.

It wasn't celebrated for several years until High Court Judge George Odunga, on November 8, 2017, restored it as a public holiday. In his ruling, he termed the scrapping as a contravention of the law.

On October 8, 2019, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i gazetted the holiday in line with the court ruling.

Matiang'i's statement read, "in line with the provisions of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110, Laws of Kenya) and the decision of the court in Judicial Review No. 292 of 2017 (Republic v Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security Ex Parte G O Nyauchi and 4 Others) it is hereby confirmed that 10th October 2019 will be a public holiday."

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Chief of Staff Samson Mwathethe during the Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12, 2018.